Leadership Lessons from History

 As Black History Month comes to an end, we want to share our thoughts on some influential black leaders.

ROSA PARKS
She was small but determined. Rosa had the courage to stand up for her beliefs. She was jailed for refusing to give up her bus seat for a white passenger. Effective leaders should make the right decision – even if it is not a popular one.

GEORGE CARVER
He was a strong proponent of personal responsibility. “Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” This profound statement from the notable agricultural scientist highlights the significance of integrity. The values of an organization flow from the top positions.

SARAH BREEDLOVE WALKER
This inventor and businesswoman created and sold her own brand of cream/shampoo in the early 1900s to ease the problem of itchy skin due to a lack of indoor plumbing. Her company trained thousands of African American women to sell the products in stores, through the mail and door-to-door visits. Ms. Walker knew the importance of employee recruitment and training.

JACKIE ROBINSON
As the first African American player in Major League Baseball, Jackie was ostracised by players and fans. His non-violent approach to the Civil Rights movement emphasizes the impact of leading by example.

URSULA BURNS
She holds the distinction of being the first African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. She was the top executive at Xerox from 2009 to 2016 in her role as CEO and chairwoman. Organizations thrive with strong leadership.

It is crucial to have the right people in the right roles for success. Organizations rely on the Davidson Group’s experience to hire and retain the right employees. We specialize in employee training and development.

What Employees Love

Companies should be motivated to promote a healthy work environment. Happy employees are more successful, productive and collaborative. They think more creatively and are not afraid to take risks. Below are some ways to create and promote a positive workplace through these Human Resources (HR) practices.

Training

We recommend that companies dedicate at least one week to training new employees. The HR manager should create a planned onboarding program. This can include shadowing colleagues, attending meetings, reviewing strategy documents and locating key internal documents. Don’t forget to review health and safety protocols. Ongoing training should be offered as needed on specific topics.

Regular Communication

Two-way communication is crucial for organizational success. Managers should set up a regular schedule to connect with their employees, and this should be done outside of operational meetings. These check-ins can be done via text, Zoom, a phone call or over coffee. The key is having dedicated time each week to discuss projects, ideas and challenges.

Clean Up

Time is our most valuable commodity. It is respectful to clean up after yourself. That means washing your coffee cup and putting it away. It also translates to replacing paper in the copier after running a big job. Employees should be mindful of sharing key documents and attending meetings on time. Mutual respect promotes a professional work environment.

Set Clear Goals

Success is achieved when performance and goals align. Each person should have clear work objectives. Clearly explain what key performance indicators (KPI) will be used to monitor their progress. Set regular times to evaluate KPIs, which allows for tweak to be made. A company should align the goals of the employee and their team to the organization. It’s important to communicate how personal and departmental goals support the mission of the company.

If you want ideas on how to improve the happiness factor in your company, contact HR expects at the Davidson Group.